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3232126836891This 16-year-old’s suicide letters are a cry for help and a national call for changehttps://www.ocregister.com/2018/03/19/this-16-year-olds-suicide-letters-are-a-cry-for-help-and-a-national-call-for-change/
Mon, 19 Mar 2018 14:36:46 +0000https://www.ocregister.com?p=6319517&preview_id=6319517Second of three parts. Read part one.

In a very nice part of California and in a very nice home, a very nice family sits down to a dinner of chicken tetrazzini, salad and croissants.

Dad asks his 18-year-old son about the baseball game he just pitched. The team lost, but the family knows there are bigger things in life. The Corona del Mar High School senior feels fine about his performance.

But no matter how positive and relaxed the conversation, an unshakable gloom filled with humankind’s deepest questions hangs in the air.

The dinner is courtesy of caring neighbors who want to help. Someone is missing from the table who should be here, but will never return.

Patrick “Patty” Turner played baseball at Corona del Mar high school. His family said he loved playing both baseball and football. (Courtesy of the Turner Family)

But unlike with most suicides, Patrick Turner left several thoughtful notes detailing exactly what caused him to take his life and offered them to “whoever reads them.” Significantly, the boy’s notes shed light on what experts call a new national crisis in teens killing themselves.

“So much pressure is put on kids to do good, and a lot of kids make mistakes,” Patrick wrote. “One slipup makes a kid feel like the smallest person in the world.

“You are looked at as a loser if you don’t go to college or if you get a certain GPA or test score. There is never a moment to brake.”

Patrick Turner, a 16-year-old sophomore at Corona del Mar High, took his life Jan. 27. He left these letters.Patrick Turner, a 16-year-old sophomore at Corona del Mar High, took his life Jan. 27. He left these letters.

Dark side of technology

For a millenia, every generation has been pressured to succeed, be it with bows and arrows or typewriters. But never before has there been so much information as there is in the internet age, and with the widespread use of smartphones, the barrage is 24/7.

Unless you’re a teenager who grew up with the device, the overload is difficult to fathom.

This is not about bullying, nor is it about pounding parents. Instead, it is about an internal pressure to excel that is fueled, at least in part, by what kids see on the internet.

When one person is admitted to a “select” school, a viral text can make it feel like everyone is doing better. Staged photos of, say, two girls laughing together communicate others are having fun and you are alone.

In truth, however, social media such as Instagram and Snapchat do little more than give rise to a destructive contest for who gets the most “likes.”

Parents may take away their children’s smartphones at night, but teens can still text with laptops, tablets and take advantage of Google phone numbers. They create and hide fake or secret Instagram accounts, known as “finstas” or “sinstas.”

It’s impossible to know exactly how social media affected Patrick. But what is known is that Patrick’s letters give voice to what millions of iGen teens feel.

“Finals have pressured me immensely, along with a lot of other people,” Patrick wrote. “So much pressure is placed on the students to do well, that I couldn’t do it anymore.”

Patrick himself wrote, “People don’t understand how to be selfless. It’s all about how great ‘I’ am. It’s never about the other kid – the kid who maybe does not play a sport, have a 4.0+ GPA, but displays great character.”

The high school sophomore also offered solutions.

Patrick “Patty” Turner enjoys fishing on the Snake River in Idaho near his family’s vacation home when he was 15. (Courtesy of the Turner Family)

But don’t think of Patrick as a hero or a martyr. Despite a song written decades ago by a 14-year-old, suicide is not painless.

Patrick’s mother, Kim, is left struggling to understand her son’s decision. She cautions, “Don’t glorify the letters.”

Instead, let’s learn from them.

Gladiators for grades

By all typical measures, Patrick should be happy and alive as you read this column.

He was a sophomore with good grades, A’s and Bs. With a shock of blond hair and a smile to light up hearts, he was gifted with natural athleticism that allowed him to fall in love with both baseball and football, to excel at both snowboarding and skiing.

Patrick also appeared to balance life. He enjoyed dumb videos. He liked to goof.

Simply put, Patrick was the kind of kid everyone liked.

Balloons, posters, flowers, photos, stuffed animals covered much of the baseball field after Patrick took his life. Thousands of letters, notes and cards poured in. His funeral was attended by nearly 2,000 people because they knew Patrick cared.

In a way, Patrick was his own role model. A hugger, he told friends he loved them. He donated to the Semper Fi fund, made sandwiches for the homeless.

The mother of a blind girl who ran into Patrick’s father at the grocery store told how Patrick helped her daughter navigate stairs in middle school.

Patrick’s letter to family was filled with love and thank yous. “Have fun. Live life like there is no tomorrow.” More than anything, Patrick called for compassion.

During Dad’s eulogy, J.T., as he is known, echoed his son, “Look in the mirror, look at your hearts, stop keeping score, stop racing each other, stop making it about yourself, slow down, have a conversation.”

In a letter to students, Newport Harbor High Principal Sean Boulton, too, was moved to amplify Patrick’s call for change. “This competitive culture has significantly impacted our young adults. We endlessly discuss test scores, National Merit Scholarships, reading scores, AP scholars, comparisons to other school districts and this is when we start losing our collective souls – and our children.

“We think that earning a ‘C’ grade in a class is the end of the world, and we don’t allow our students to advocate for themselves.”

In an area often dubbed the “Gold Coast” and known for wealth, Boulton concluded, “It is the sum of our experiences that should always outweigh the sum of our bank accounts.”

‘Totally chill’

With loving parents, siblings who support one another and two mellow Labradoodles, Bentley and Boomer, the Turner family seems the least likely to be hit with suicide caused by pressure.

At their vacation home in Idaho, the kids fly fish in summer and ski in winter. “Patty always liked to catch the first chair of the day as well as the last chair,” Dad recalls. “That’s just how he lived his life.”

The family celebrates New Year’s sitting together and watching bowl games. The day usually includes Mom, Dad, Patrick and his two older brothers and older sister. Now, only Patrick’s presence will be there.

Patrick sometimes cooked omelets for the family and created his own dessert concoctions. In his bedroom, he played his keyboard, usually Coldplay, “Star Wars” or U2.

Dad, a senior executive at the Irvine Company, would lay on Patrick’s bed and listen.

Students at Corona del Mar High School are selling shirts to raise funds for Patrick Turner’s charity, the Semper Fi Foundation, and to raise awareness about pressures teens face.

It says a lot when a father who is responsible for millions of dollars in commercial leasing proudly describes his son as, “Just totally chill.”

Similarly, Patrick’s football nickname at Corona del Mar High was “Patty Ice.”

Still, on Friday nights when many teens are at parties, Patrick usually stayed home.

‘Be inclusive’

Patrick’s mother is a giver, both in and out of the home. With a master’s degree in business administration from Claremont University, she’s served on the CDM Foundation, the high school’s booster club and currently volunteers as executive administrator for OC Alliance for Just Change.

She wishes her son talked about what was bothering him, that he sought help. But he didn’t and, now, he never can.

“He was in a dark place and his thinking was completely irrational,” Kim quietly allows, “with no concept of the guilt, anger and sadness that he was leaving behind.”

Still, Mom is certain that today’s culture of competition for grades and test scores played a significant role in her son’s suicide.

“This,” she declares, “is a huge wake-up call.”

Fortunately, Patrick’s voice continues to ring out. His classmates are even making T-shirts declaring, “Be the change Patty wanted.”

“If there is a kid out there who is alone,” wrote Patrick, “it never hurts to sit with them or ask them how they’re doing.

This chasm, often more emotional than scientific, can be tied to many things. It’s coast vs. desert. It’s new vs. developed. It’s wealth vs. affordable. It’s a bit of snobbery vs. chip-on-the-shoulder, too.

One nationwide ranking of regional livability gives us a window into the relative differences between life in L.A.-O.C. and Riverside and San Bernardino counties. And by this metric — by no means the only such yardstick — the livability gap between the two pairs of counties has grown wider in a year.

Gallup’s annual “well-being” rankings for the nation’s 186 major metropolitan areas shows L.A.-O.C. in 53rd place for the second straight year – sandwichedbetween Des Moines and Ocala, Fla. That’s a “second quintile” score, or to what a school teacher might give a “B” grade. Two years ago, though, L.A.-O.C ranked No. 40, almost at the “A” level of livability.

The Inland Empire didn’t fare as well. It’s latest ranking was a mid-range 98th, between Lansing, Mich. and Savannah, Ga. That “C” grade is well off from the previous year’s 73rd and slightly worse than 2015’s 93rd place.

So Gallup’s math suggests this local livability gap (45 ranking spots) is nearly back to where it was two years ago (52 spots), and the narrow gap from a year ago (20 spots) was perhaps just a blip.

I enjoy reviewing Gallup’s livability rankings because they’re more touchy-feely than other quality-of-city scorecards. This “well-being index” is based on the firm’s constant polling of American adults’ feelings on five regional attributes: the sense of daily purpose, the social climate, financial opportunities, community pride and local health.

And L.A.-O.C. managed to stay stable in this latest scorecard despite ranking declines in four of the five well-being categories. The only improvement was in the measurement of community pride, up to 99th from No. 114 a year earlier. L.A.-O.C.’s best attribute, by this yardstick, is how healthy locals feel: No. 22 in the most current ranking.

The Inland Empire also had only one improvement: in the gauge of personal relationships, up to No. 101 from 134rd a year earlier. The best scores for Riverside and San Bernardino counties came in health at No. 57 and in purpose at No. 60.

And this well-being index is quite discerning about what’s hot and what’s not-so-hot in California with three metros near the bottom of the rankings: No 150 Chico, No. 155. Fresno, and No. 171 Bakersfield.

I guess you could say this metric likes smaller towns as the top scores were found in modest-sized locales: Naples, Fla., Barnstable Town, Mass., and Boulder, Colo. But lowest livability wasn’t in giant metros either: Gulfport, Miss., Canton, Ohio and Fort Smith, Ark.

Of course, livability can be a very personal issue. Some folks like the hustle-and-bustle of densely populated regions. Others enjoy a life that’s less crowded. A heightened sense of community could be like nosy people. A healthiness vibe can twist into vanity.

And there’s the financial slice in this kind of debate. Locally, coastal or inland, it can come down to “how much would you pay?” Using census data on housing costs, for example, it’s 15 percent more expensive to live in Los Angeles and Orange counties than the Inland Empire.

Is livability worth that much?

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Dunkin’ Donuts reveals its new concept in Corona on March 22https://www.ocregister.com/2018/03/19/dunkin-donuts-reveals-its-new-concept-in-corona-on-march-22/
https://www.ocregister.com/2018/03/19/dunkin-donuts-reveals-its-new-concept-in-corona-on-march-22/#respondMon, 19 Mar 2018 13:53:06 +0000https://www.ocregister.com?p=6319503&preview_id=6319503Southern California’s next Dunkin’ Donuts will be a little different from most of 12,000-plus restaurants in the chain.

The location that opens Thursday, March 22, in Corona will be a “next generation concept store,” only the second in the chain. The first opened in January in Quincy, Mass.

New features include a grab-and-go section, craft brewery style taps for cold beverages, and uniforms with upbeat messages such as “Fueled by Positive Energy.”

But folks who show up at 4 a.m. on Thursday may be just as interested in Dunkin’ Donuts grand opening traditions, such as the chance to pose with the mascot Cuppy. And the first 100 guests in line get free coffee for a year.

This Dunkin’ Donuts, which does not have a drive-through, is in a shopping center anchored by a Smart & Final Extra! grocery store than opened in November.

That’s their cue to reach quietly for a small, sleek device they can easily conceal in their palms. It resembles a flash drive, but instead of computer files, this device stores nicotine.

They take a hit, sucking on the device as they would a cigarette. Then, “they blow into their backpacks … or into their sweater when the teacher isn’t looking,” said Elijah Luna, 16, a sophomore at Vista del Lago High School in Folsom.

The vapor cloud is so small and dissipates so quickly that teachers are usually none the wiser, said Luna, who added he’s never tried it himself.

The device is a Juul, a popular electronic cigarette that’s a sensation among teens, especially in wealthier neighborhoods — and a nightmare for school administrators and public health advocates.

Among this collection of e-cigarettes, Juul is the second from the right. (Sarah Johnson via Flickr)

“I think this is going to be the health problem of the decade,” said Milagros Vascones-Gatski, a substance abuse counselor at Yorktown High School in Arlington, Va. In nearly 17 years working with teens, she said, she’s never seen a tobacco product become so popular so quickly. Three to four students are caught smoking e-cigs on campus each week, usually Juuls, and some are suspended, she said.

Vascones-Gatski, along with other concerned educators and health care experts, consider “Juuling” more than youthful rebellion. Because it is high in nicotine, they fear the devices are extremely addictive for this vulnerable population.

To combat the spread of the devices, some schools have banned flash drives as well, to avoid any confusion between the items. Yorktown High even removed the main entrance doors from student bathrooms at the beginning of the school year to dissuade students from vaping inside. Despite these efforts, teens across America continue smoking the stuff in class, in hallways, in restrooms and at school sporting events.

Because it’s referred to as Juuling, not smoking or vaping, some students may think what they’re doing is harmless, said Pamela Ling, a professor at the University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine. “They may not even know it contains nicotine.”

But it does — and a significant amount. One Juul “pod,” the nicotine cartridge inserted into the smoking device and heated, delivers about 200 puffs, about as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes, according to the product website.

Assuming a teen smokes one pod a week, “in five weeks, that’s like 100 cigarettes,” Ling said. “By that point, you’re considered an established smoker.”

E-cigarettes, also known as vapes, are battery-operated devices that heat up liquid nicotine to generate an aerosol that users inhale. Smoking e-cigs is more discreet and easier to get away with than traditional cigarettes.

In 2016, California increased the minimum age to purchase tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, from 18 to 21. Experts predicted the change would make it harder for teens to get tobacco products from their slightly older friends, and it seems to be working, according to a recent report.

But some health care advocates now worry that devices like the Juul could reverse that progress.

Although its manufacturer, Juul Labs, said the device is intended exclusively for adult use, it is appealing to youth because it can be easily charged on a laptop, its decal covers come in colorful designs, and the pods are available in flavors such as mango, mint and crème brûlée.

The odor Juuls produce is subtle and could easily be mistaken for a lotion or body spray.

The Juul device, which fits easily into your hand, is easy to hide and looks much like a USB mini-drive. (Photo: Getty Images)

“It’s stinky and fruity,” said Luna’s friend Cody Maratas, of the smell he encounters inside school restrooms when others are Juuling.

In a Reddit forum dedicated to Juuling in schools, some users who identify themselves as students say school restrooms smell much nicer now as a result.

Other online users describe “craving nicotine” and complain about “fiends” who ask to borrow their Juuls at school. One has solved this by charging freshmen $3 for a hit.

An article from Berkeley High School’s student newspaper described students who seek Juuls from others because they “love the head rush.”

“That’s a symptom of nicotine addiction,” Ling said.

Juul Labs said it wants to help schools get its products off their campuses. Spokeswoman Christine Castro said the company has created a curriculum to educate youth about Juul and nicotine addiction, with input from academics. It’s available for any school that is interested, she said.

Castro said the company limits online purchases to individuals 21 or older. To browse the site, you need only click on a box pledging you’re of age. But to buy, you must create a profile. Customer information is verified through multiple databases and, if that fails, customers must upload a photo identification, she said.

However, Castro conceded that it is harder to control sales on third-party sites like eBay or Craigslist.

She urged consumers to report suspicious sales to the company’s youthprevention@juul.com email address. Juul Labs may follow up with secret shopper visits to stores suspected of selling the product to underage customers, she said.

If users get through the age-verification process online, they can buy a Juul starter kit, which includes the vaping pen and four pods, for $50. That’s expensive for most high school students — which is why Juuling might be more prevalent in affluent communities. “In order to vape, you need money,” said Vascones-Gatski, noting that most students at her high school either work or receive big allowances.

Vince Willmore, vice president of communications at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, applauds efforts taken by schools, but he thinks the burden shouldn’t fall solely on educators and parents. The Food and Drug Administration “regulates tobacco products … and we think it’s important that the FDA take action to protect kids from Juul and other e-cigarettes,” he said.

Last year, the agency delayed regulations that could have yanked many e-cigarette products from the market, possibly including the Juul, while it studies whether these devices might actually help longtime smokers wean off traditional cigarettes. “That basically locked in the products that are in the market for another four years,” Willmore said.

Meanwhile, schools continue the battle.

At Needham High School in Massachusetts, Principal Aaron Sicotte said e-cigarettes started appearing on his campus last school year, and soon Juul became the most popular brand.

The school has alerted staff “so that when these fall out of students’ bags, teachers don’t hand them back,” he said.

While the hype surrounding Juul might die down, Sicotte doesn’t expect vaping to go away. “I think this is something that will remain in the fabric of adolescence,” he said. “The access is too easy, the draw is too great, and the push through advertising is too significant.”

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is not considering firing the special counsel investigating Russian election interference, a top White House lawyer said, after a cascade of Trump tweets revived chatter that the deeply frustrated president may be preparing to get rid of the veteran prosecutor.

The late-Sunday statement from White House lawyer Ty Cobb came after top congressional Republicans warned of repercussions if Trump fired special counsel Robert Mueller, who is looking into contacts between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia and Russian meddling in the presidential election.

In a series of weekend tweets, Trump jabbed directly at Mueller by name for the first time. The president challenged the investigation’s existence and suggested political bias on the part of Mueller’s investigators. Trump has long been frustrated by the lengthy and intensifying probe, and insists his campaign did not collude with Russia to influence the election in his favor.

“The Mueller probe should never have been started in that there was no collusion and there was no crime,” he said in a late Saturday tweet he ended with “WITCH HUNT!”

Likely contributing to Trump’s sense of frustration, The New York Times reported last week that Mueller had subpoenaed the Trump Organization for Russia-related documents. Trump had said Mueller would cross a red line with such a step.

“Why does the Mueller team have 13 hardened Democrats, some big Crooked Hillary supporters, and Zero Republicans?” he tweeted Sunday.

Some of Mueller’s investigators indeed have contributed to Democratic political candidates, but Justice Department policy and federal service law bar discrimination in the hiring of career positions on the basis of political affiliation. Mueller is a Republican.

The tweets revived talk that Trump may, in an attempt to end the investigation, move to have Mueller fired. Cobb sought to tamp down the speculation.

“In response to media speculation and related questions being posed to the Administration, the White House yet again confirms that the President is not considering or discussing the firing of the Special Counsel, Robert Mueller,” he said.

Earlier Sunday, members of Congress, including some top Republicans, warned Trump to not even think about terminating Mueller.

“If he tried to do that, that would be the beginning of the end of his presidency,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a Trump ally.

Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform panel, warned Trump that a Mueller firing would be a distraction from the president’s agenda.

“Let it play out its course,” Gowdy said on “Fox News Sunday.” ”If you’ve done nothing wrong, you should want the investigation to be as wholesome and thorough as possible.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said through a spokeswoman that “Mr. Mueller and his team should be able to do their job.”

And Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., tweeted that it is “critical” Mueller be allowed to complete a thorough investigation “unimpeded.”

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., called for passage of stalled bipartisan bills designed to protect Mueller. He said Trump “is engaged in desperate and reckless conduct to intimidate his law enforcement agencies of this country and to try and stop the special counsel. That is unacceptable in a democracy.”

Trump cannot directly fire Mueller, who can only be dismissed for cause. Any dismissal would have to be carried out by Rod Rosenstein, the Trump-appointed deputy attorney general who has publicly expressed support for Mueller.

Trump has fumed to confidants that the Mueller probe is “going to choke the life out of” his presidency if allowed to continue unabated indefinitely, according to an outside adviser who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations with the president.

Trump has long believed that the entrenched bureaucracy, particularly at the Justice Department and FBI, is out to thwart him. He fumed to one confidant after seeing a promotion for a forthcoming book by James Comey, the FBI director he fired last year, believing Comey will seek to enrich himself by besmirching Trump’s reputation. Comey’s book, “A Higher Loyalty,” topped Amazon.com’s best-seller list on Sunday.

The president also has long been torn over how to approach the probe. His legal team, namely Cobb, has counseled Trump to cooperate with Mueller. But some former campaign advisers have urged Trump to be combative, warning that the investigation poses an existential threat to his presidency.

Aides and friends say they understand Trump’s frustration.

Marc Short, Trump’s congressional liaison, said the frustration is “well-warranted” because “there has been no evidence whatsoever of collusion.”

Trump may have felt emboldened after Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe on Friday, something Trump had clamored for out of a belief that McCabe was part of the entrenched, anti-Trump bureaucracy. “A great day for Democracy,” Trump tweeted afterward. Trump asserted without elaboration that McCabe knew “all about the lies and corruption going on at the highest levels of the FBI!”

The Associated Press later reported that McCabe kept personal memos detailing interactions with Trump that have been provided to Mueller’s office and are similar to notes compiled by Comey. Trump sought to cast doubt on their veracity, tweeting Sunday that he spent “very little time” with McCabe “but he never took notes when he was with me.”

“I don’t believe he made memos except to help his own agenda, probably at a later date. Same with lying James Comey. Can we call them Fake Memos?” Trump tweeted. It wouldn’t be unusual for a senior official to make notes soon after meeting with the president.

The contents of McCabe’s memos are unknown, but they could help substantiate McCabe’s assertion that he was unfairly maligned by a White House he says had declared “war” on the FBI and Mueller’s investigation.

Sessions said he dismissed McCabe on the recommendation of FBI disciplinary officials who said McCabe had not been candid with a watchdog office investigation. An upcoming inspector general’s report is expected to conclude that McCabe had authorized the release of information to the media and was not forthcoming with the watchdog office as it examined the bureau’s handling of an investigation into Democrat Hillary Clinton’s emails.

McCabe has vigorously disputed the allegations and said his credibility came under attack as “part of a larger effort not just to slander me personally” but also the FBI and law enforcement.

Associated Press writers Chad Day and Eric Tucker in Washington and Jonathan Lemire in New York contributed to this report.

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Montclair woman identified as rock climber who fell to her death in Cleveland National Foresthttps://www.ocregister.com/2018/03/18/montclair-woman-identified-as-rock-climber-who-fell-to-her-death-in-cleveland-national-forest/
https://www.ocregister.com/2018/03/18/montclair-woman-identified-as-rock-climber-who-fell-to-her-death-in-cleveland-national-forest/#respondMon, 19 Mar 2018 06:30:59 +0000https://www.ocregister.com?p=6319454&preview_id=6319454A woman who fell to her death while rock climbing in the Cleveland National Forest has been identified as 33-year-old Joy Welling of Montclair.

Welling was pronounce dead at the site, near Blue Jay Campground, the Orange County Coroner’s Office reported.

Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers argues a call by the officials during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets Thursday, March 15, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Detroit Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy yells to the officials after the Pistons were called for a technical foul during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Portland, Ore., Saturday, March 17, 2018. The Blazers won 100-87. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)

New Orleans Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry challenges an official on a foul call during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets in New Orleans, Saturday, March 17, 2018. The Rockets won 107-101. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Alvin Gentry of the New Orleans Pelicans, Stan Van Gundy of the Detroit Pistons and Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers were all fined $15,000 this past weekend by the NBA for public criticism of the officiating.

The comments made by the coaches followed a loss for their respective teams.

Here is what those coaches had to say:

The NBA announced Rivers’ fine Friday for comments he said to the media about the officiating in Thursday’s game between the Clippers and the Houston Rockets.

Doc Rivers rips the officials. They shot 41 3s; we shot 18. We doubled them in the amount of points in the paint and it was 24-8 in free throws. That’s a joke. That is a complete joke. Our guys drove and got hit all game. Lou got killed and no call. Austin gets hit and no call.”

LOS ANGELES — The Clippers interrupted their North American tour to stop by Staples Center to play host to the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night. It might as well have been another road game. It was definitely the Clippers’ biggest game of the season.

Until their next one, anyway.

Instead of seizing the moment, another must-win game slipped from the Clippers’ grasp as they dropped a 122-109 decision to the Trail Blazers. The 10th-place Clippers’ loss was their third in a row and left them two games out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Lou Williams scored 30 points to lead the Clippers, his 11th game with 30 or more in a reserve role this season. DeAndre Jordan scored seven points and grabbed 16 rebounds for his 10 consecutive game with 15 rebounds or more, tying the longest streak of his career.

The Clippers (37-32) chased the game from the opening minutes and, although they didn’t exactly embarrass themselves or their community, they couldn’t catch the third-place Trail Blazers, who won their 13th consecutive game and improved to 44-26.

Damian Lillard scored 23 points for the Trail Blazers, and Maurice Harkless and C.J. McCollum added 21 points apiece. The Trail Blazers played for the second consecutive night, after defeating the Detroit Pistons on Saturday in Portland, but there were few signs of fatigue.

The Clippers played their third game in three cites in four nights, after losing Thursday at Houston and Friday at Oklahoma City. Fatigue appeared to be a factor Sunday, especially in the second half, when they trailed by as many as 18 points. Rivers refused to use it as an excuse, though.

“At this point, we’ve just got to win games,” said Rivers, who scored 15 points. “I don’t care if we have to play five games in five nights, we’ve just got to win games. Everybody’s tired right now. Everybody’s bruised. Everybody’s trying to play catch-up.

“We’ve dropped a couple of games in a row. We’ve got to get it back going.”

The Clippers hit the road again Monday to begin a four-game trip Tuesday at Minnesota.

Six of their next seven games are away from the cavernous confines of Staples Center, part of a make-or-break stretch in which they will have played nine of 11 on the road before ending the regular season with five of their final six games at home.

Home or away, the Clippers must play harder and smarter than they did against Portland if they hope to rally for a playoff position, according to Williams.

“We realize we don’t have a lot of room for error,” said Williams, who scored 20 or more for the 32nd time off the bench this season. “There’s a lot of teams that don’t have a lot of room for error. Dire is one word, but at the end of the day, we can only go out and play as hard as we can.”

The Clippers’ hearts were willing, but their legs were not.

Their task was simple, but achieving it was not

The presence of the Trail Blazers made it all the more difficult Sunday. Chasing Lillard and McCollum is never an easy assignment, even for a well-rested team. The Clippers tried to stay in front of Lillard and McCollum, but they weren’t very successful.

Guard play is often Portland’s strength, and it was again Sunday.

“I just thought we got out-played,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. “Listen, when you play a team that’s on a streak, you know you’ve got to deal with it, because they’re playing well. You could see they were riding that. They were riding the energy. They played (Saturday) night and you couldn’t tell.

“They played hard. I thought they played harder than us, which I don’t say very often.”

Kenya’s Weldon Kirui makes his way first over the finish line at 2:11:47, during the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica at the finish line. (Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG)

3-18-18. Santa Monica CA. Ethiopia’s Sule Gedo first women to cross the finish line at 2:33:52. during the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica at the finish line. Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

3-18-18. Santa Monica CA. USA’s Christina Vergara came in 4th at 2:34:27, during the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica at the finish line. Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

Big faces of Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie on Hollywood Blvd overlook the runners of the Los Angeles Marathon in Los Angeles Sunday, March 18, 2018. The Stadium to the Sea course starts at Dodger Stadium and passes through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finishing in the City of Santa Monica at the intersection of Ocean and California Avenues, just steps from the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova/Daily Breeze)

The second wave of runners starts their Los Angeles Marathon in Los Angeles Sunday, March 18, 2018. The Stadium to the Sea course starts at Dodger Stadium and passes through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finishing in the City of Santa Monica at the intersection of Ocean and California Avenues, just steps from the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova/Daily Breeze)

Runners huddle as they try to stay warm inside of Dodgers Stadium during the early morning before the start of the Los Angeles Marathon in Los Angeles Sunday, March 18, 2018. The Stadium to the Sea course starts at Dodger Stadium and passes through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finishing in the City of Santa Monica at the intersection of Ocean and California Avenues, just steps from the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova/Daily Breeze)

Runners pass the front of TCL Chinese Theatre as part of the Los Angeles Marathon in Los Angeles Sunday, March 18, 2018. The Stadium to the Sea course starts at Dodger Stadium and passes through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finishing in the City of Santa Monica at the intersection of Ocean and California Avenues, just steps from the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova/Daily Breeze)

Runners pass the Walt Disney Concert Hall in the Los Angeles Marathon 2018 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles Sunday, March 18, 2018. The Stadium to the Sea course starts at Dodger Stadium and passes through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finishing in the City of Santa Monica at the intersection of Ocean and California Avenues, just steps from the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova/Daily Breeze)

Angela Shots dressed as Marilyn Monroe pauses during her run of the Los Angeles Marathon in Los Angeles Sunday, March 18, 2018. The Stadium to the Sea course starts at Dodger Stadium and passes through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finishing in the City of Santa Monica at the intersection of Ocean and California Avenues, just steps from the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova/Daily Breeze)

Ethiopia’s Sule Gedo first women to cross the finish line at 2:33:52. during the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica at the finish line. (Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG)

3-18-18. Santa Monica CA. Kenya’s Weldon Kirui makes his way first over the finish line at 2:11:47, during the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica at the finish line. Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

3-18-18. Santa Monica CA. Kenya’s Weldon Kirui makes his way first over the finish line at 2:11:47, during the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica at the finish line. Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

3-18-18. Santa Monica CA. Kenya’s Weldon Kirui makes his way first over the finish line at 2:11:47, during the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica at the finish line. Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

3-18-18. Santa Monica CA. USA’s Christina Vergara came in 4th at 2:34:27, during the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica at the finish line. Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

Kenya’s Weldon Kirui makes his way first over the finish line at 2:11:47, during the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica at the finish line. March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG)

3-18-18. Santa Monica CA. Kenya’s Weldon Kirui makes his way first over the finish line at 2:11:47, during the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica at the finish line. Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

3-18-18. Santa Monica CA. Ethiopia’s Sule Gedo first women to cross the finish line at 2:33:52. during the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica at the finish line. Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

3-18-18. Santa Monica CA. Ethiopia’s Sule Gedo first women to cross the finish line at 2:33:52. during the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica at the finish line. Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

Thousands of runners take part in the Los Angeles Marathon 2018 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles Sunday, March 18, 2018. The Stadium to the Sea course starts at Dodger Stadium and passes through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finishing in the City of Santa Monica at the intersection of Ocean and California Avenues, just steps from the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova/Daily Breeze)

Runners pass the Walt Disney Concert Hall in the Los Angeles Marathon 2018 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles Sunday, March 18, 2018. The Stadium to the Sea course starts at Dodger Stadium and passes through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finishing in the City of Santa Monica at the intersection of Ocean and California Avenues, just steps from the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova/Daily Breeze)

A runner wears a sumo wrestlers mawashi as he runs the Los Angeles Marathon in Los Angeles Sunday, March 18, 2018. The Stadium to the Sea course starts at Dodger Stadium and passes through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finishing in the City of Santa Monica at the intersection of Ocean and California Avenues, just steps from the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova/Daily Breeze)

Runners pass the El Capitan Theatre along Holywood Blvd part of the Los Angeles Marathon in Los Angeles Sunday, March 18, 2018. The Stadium to the Sea course starts at Dodger Stadium and passes through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finishing in the City of Santa Monica at the intersection of Ocean and California Avenues, just steps from the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova/Daily Breeze)

A pink flamingo makes its way through the Los Angeles Marathon in Los Angeles Sunday, March 18, 2018. The Stadium to the Sea course starts at Dodger Stadium and passes through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finishing in the City of Santa Monica at the intersection of Ocean and California Avenues, just steps from the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova/Daily Breeze)

Two runners in kimono run in the Los Angeles Marathon in Los Angeles Sunday, March 18, 2018. The Stadium to the Sea course starts at Dodger Stadium and passes through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finishing in the City of Santa Monica at the intersection of Ocean and California Avenues, just steps from the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova/Daily Breeze)

A wheelchair gets his start in the Los Angeles Marathon in Los Angeles Sunday, March 18, 2018. The Stadium to the Sea course starts at Dodger Stadium and passes through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finishing in the City of Santa Monica at the intersection of Ocean and California Avenues, just steps from the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova/Daily Breeze)

The handcycle get their start in the Los Angeles Marathon in Los Angeles Sunday, March 18, 2018. The Stadium to the Sea course starts at Dodger Stadium and passes through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finishing in the City of Santa Monica at the intersection of Ocean and California Avenues, just steps from the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova/Daily Breeze)

A handcycle gets his start in the Los Angeles Marathon in Los Angeles Sunday, March 18, 2018. The Stadium to the Sea course starts at Dodger Stadium and passes through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finishing in the City of Santa Monica at the intersection of Ocean and California Avenues, just steps from the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova/Daily Breeze)

Marathoners with big hearts get their start of the Los Angeles Marathon in Los Angeles Sunday, March 18, 2018. The Stadium to the Sea course starts at Dodger Stadium and passes through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finishing in the City of Santa Monica at the intersection of Ocean and California Avenues, just steps from the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova/Daily Breeze)

The elite woman runners get their start of the Los Angeles Marathon in Los Angeles Sunday, March 18, 2018. The Stadium to the Sea course starts at Dodger Stadium and passes through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finishing in the City of Santa Monica at the intersection of Ocean and California Avenues, just steps from the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova/Daily Breeze)

A lady and boy find a way to look over a fence as runners prepare for their start of the Los Angeles Marathon in Los Angeles Sunday, March 18, 2018. The Stadium to the Sea course starts at Dodger Stadium and passes through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finishing in the City of Santa Monica at the intersection of Ocean and California Avenues, just steps from the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova/Daily Breeze)

Taiko Drummers encourage runners up a steep hill in downtown LA as part of the Los Angeles Marathon in Los Angeles Sunday, March 18, 2018. The Stadium to the Sea course starts at Dodger Stadium and passes through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finishing in the City of Santa Monica at the intersection of Ocean and California Avenues, just steps from the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova/Daily Breeze)

A runner makes his way through the Los Angeles Marathon in Los Angeles Sunday, March 18, 2018. The Stadium to the Sea course starts at Dodger Stadium and passes through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finishing in the City of Santa Monica at the intersection of Ocean and California Avenues, just steps from the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova/Daily Breeze)

A runner with his horn makes his way through the Los Angeles Marathon in Los Angeles Sunday, March 18, 2018. The Stadium to the Sea course starts at Dodger Stadium and passes through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finishing in the City of Santa Monica at the intersection of Ocean and California Avenues, just steps from the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova/Daily Breeze)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The scene at the finish line of the 33rd Los Angeles Marathon in Santa Monica on Sunday, March 18, 2018. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Thousands of runners take part in the Los Angeles Marathon 2018 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles Sunday, March 18, 2018. The Stadium to the Sea course starts at Dodger Stadium and passes through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finishing in the City of Santa Monica at the intersection of Ocean and California Avenues, just steps from the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Thomas R. Cordova/Daily Breeze)

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2018-03-18T21:33:12+00:00
2018-03-18T21:33:12+00:00
Play It Forward March 19-25: No rest in the West for NCAA upsetshttps://www.ocregister.com/2018/03/18/play-it-forward-march-19-25-no-rest-in-the-west-for-ncaa-upsets/
https://www.ocregister.com/2018/03/18/play-it-forward-march-19-25-no-rest-in-the-west-for-ncaa-upsets/#respondMon, 19 Mar 2018 04:27:29 +0000https://www.ocregister.com?p=6319253&preview_id=6319253Ranking the top 10 sports events March 19-25 you won’t want to miss:

Sunday proved to be quite the 1-2 punch in the West. No. 9 Florida State came back from 12 points down and toppled top-seeded Xavier 75-70 and No. 7 Texas A&M throttled second-seeded defending champ North Carolina by 21. That means Los Angeles will be home to 7 vs. 3 (the Aggies take on Michigan at 4:37 p.m.) and 9 vs. 4 (the Seminoles play Gonzaga at 7:07 p.m.). Just like everyone thought. Can the underdogs keep barking? Will the Zags, for the second year in a row, zig their way via the West into another Final Four? Or can the Wolverines be the X-factor and run their winning streak to 12?

Also this week in the NIT: Second round: USC vs. Western Kentucky at Galen Center, Monday, 8:30 p.m., ESPN2 (quarterfinal game would be at USC on Wednesday if the Trojans advance).

The Bluejays (19-12) were one of three No. 11 seeds to pull off first-round upsets when Jaylyn Agnew scored 24 points and Sydney Lamberty added 20 in a 76-70 victory over No. 6 Iowa. The third-seeded Bruins (25-7), who will be seeking their third consecutive Sweet 16 appearance, dispatched of pesky No. 14 American 71-60 on Saturday at home. Should UCLA make it to Kansas City, it will face either No. 2 Texas or Pac-12 rival and No. 7 seed Arizona State.

Sierra Canyon (26-4) got past a hard-nosed Etiwanda squad 58-55 to capture the CIF Southern California Open Division championship Saturday at The Pyramid at Long Beach State. The Trailblazers will face a similar opponent on its turf Saturday night in Sacramento for the state title. Sheldon High (29-5) will have about a 15-mile drive to the Golden 1 Center after knocking off longtime powerhouse Bishop O’Dowd 61-60 to become the first public school to win the NorCal Open championship since the division began in 2013.

The week begins with Clayton Kershaw marking his 30th birthday. Does that foreshadow a 30-win season? Nope. The week ends with the first of three exhibition games in Southern California between the Dodgers and Angels. Does it imply they’ll meet there in October/November for the World Series. Hmmm.

LONG BEACH STATE at CAL STATE FULLERTONDetails: At Goodwin Field in Fullerton, Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 6 p.m., Sunday at 1 p.m.

PEPPERDINE at LOYOLA MARYMOUNTDetails: At Page Stadium in Westchester, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Bruins, cranking up their conference schedule last weekend at home, remain the only Southern California team that’s been able to stay camped in the national Top 25 polls. The Titans used to be there, but need to figure out how to pull themselves together in matchup against their Big West Conference foe 49ers, which doesn’t count in the league standings. The Titans and 49ers close the conference play with a three-game set at the end of May. Meanwhile, the Waves and Lions have their only West Coast Conference meeting of the season at LMU.

Also this week for USC: At UC Irvine, Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.; at Stanford, Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.

Also this week for Cal State Fullerton: At Goodwin Field vs. University of San Diego, Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Also this week for Long Beach State: At Loyola Marymount, Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Also this week for Cal State Northridge: At Illinois, Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.; At Missouri State, Friday at 1 p.m., Saturday at noon, Sunday at 10 a.m.

Also this week for UC Irvine: At Anteater Ballpark vs. USC, Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.; at Southern Illinois, Friday at 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at noon.

Also this week for UC Riverside: Off until March 27

Also this week for Pepperdine: At Eddy D. Field Stadium in Malibu vs. Fresno State, Tuesday at 3 p.m.

Also this week for Loyola Marymount: At Page Stadium vs. Long Beach State, Tuesday at 6 p.m.

The PGA’s version of March Madness and a 64-man bracket has a $10 million payoff – the Masters in a couple weeks has an $11 million purse. There are 16 groups of four players that have round-robin matches Wednesday to Friday for the first three rounds. The “sweet 16” left from that have to face a potential two matches Saturday and two more Sunday to claim the title. The locals are just pleased as punch that Jordan Spieth, the former Longhorn, has agreed to play against a field that should include Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy – but no Tiger Woods, based on not quite having enough world ranking juice. Adam Scott on Friday announced he was not playing, joining Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose, Rickie Fowler and U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka among the top 64 players to pass on the World Golf Championships even.

The Bruins have been a top-three ranked program all season, with Utah close behind, and including Washington, Cal, Oregon State and Arizona State in the Top 25 lately. This meet funnels into the NCAA regionals at Salt Lake City, Utah (April 7), and then the national semifinals (April 20) and finals (April 21) in St. Louis.